Texas State Rep. Mark Shelton doesn’t think some of us deserve his full respect and consideration
Today I got a letter from Mark Shelton, M.D., my State Representative. In it he says:
“Discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender/identity expression is a challenging issue in communities across Texas. Though the Texas Constitution defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, I am in favor of rights for domestic partners in order to ensure that they receive respect and consideration in certain legal matters, such as medical decision-making. Furthermore, discriminatory violence affects all Texans, from our youngest schoolchildren to our most senior citizens. I am currently reviewing legislation that addresses discriminatory violence in a variety of situations.”
I do not understand why Rep. Shelton only wants to ensure that LGBT citizens of Texas receive respect and consideration only in certain legal matters rather than in all legal matters in which all other law-abiding citizens receive his respect and consideration.
I also do not understand what the definition of ‘marriage’ in the State Constitution has to do the with domestic partnerships and why that definition should in any way restrict the rights and benefits offered by the State to domestic partners, excepting only the name ‘marriage’.
